Biking the Laurel Highlands & Other PA Bike Trails

The mountainous Laurel Highlands, which incorporates Fayette, Somerset and Westmoreland counties in southwestern Pennsylvania, deliver exemplary biking trails with options for every age and ability level.

Featured Trip Ideas

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The Ohiopyle region of the Laurel Highlands is a popular base for bikers. Ohiopyle State Parkhas 27 miles of well-marked routes for general biking and more than 25 miles of trails for mountain biking. Try the McCune Trail, a newer edition to Ohiopyle’s roster of mountain biking trails, for an exhilerating ridge-top single track that leads up to a gorgeous vista.

The Great Allegheny Passage, the longest unpaved bike path on the East Coast, consists of more than 140 miles of converted rail lines running from Homestead, Pennsylvania (near Pittsburgh), to Cumberland, Maryland. Open only to non-motorized vehicles, the mostly level “rail trail” is a 335-mile journey for all ages and abilities that eventually ends in the nation’s capital. Hop on the trail and make pit stops at charming PA towns along the way such as Rockwood, Meyersdale, Confluence and Connellsville.

Forbes State Forest is home to Mt. Davis, the highest point in Pennsylvania. Choose from more than 100 trails spanning more than 250 miles. The trails range from winding single-track routes to dirt and gravel roads. The Quebec Run Wild Area in Fayette County, which has single-track trails with steep uphill climbs/downhill descents, is popular with technical mountain bikers.

In the spring, summer and fall, Seven Springs Mountain Resort is converted from a winter ski resort to a hiking and biking hub. The resort has 11 downhill trails spanning more than 20 miles that range from paved road to extreme downhill trail riding. The trails, which feature berms, banks, rock gardens, drops and 20-foot jumps, are serviced by chair lifts for the finest downhill experience.

Other Incredible Pennsylvania Biking Trails:• Capital Area Greenbelt: The Hershey-Harrisburg Region’s 20-mile urban trail is a great way to see Harrisburg on two wheels.